Vanguard's Ballard finds right fit

Vanguard senior Dani Ballard has found the right fit to continue her softball career.

By Richard BurtonCorrespondent

Vanguard senior Dani Ballard has found the right fit to continue her softball career.

Ballard will play at Hillsborough Community College, a member of the Suncoast Conference.

"I had gone to a couple of tryouts and they offered the most as far as scholarship money," Ballard said. "Plus, I liked the girls (on the team) and it seemed like the right place for me."

The three-year varsity starter and four-year letter-winner chose HCC over St. Petersburg and Lake-Sumter.

"(HCC's coaches) told me they like my hustle and that I am always running hard in everything that I do," said Ballard, who began playing softball at the age of 8.

She credited VHS coach Cathy Beebe for helping her earn the opportunity with HCC and becoming an improved player.

"She's an amazing coach," Ballard said. "She's helped me become a better all-around player and a better hitter. She really helped me with my technique.

"Earning a scholarship was always something that was in the back of my mind and during my junior year I realized that I had the chance to go to college."

Ballard said her favorite moment as a Knight thus far was helping VHS knock off Groveland South Lake to claim the district title last season.

"It was so exciting and it meant a lot to me," she said.

FHSAA WRESTLING FINALS: Marion County's wrestling contingent that is headed to this week's FHSAA Wrestling Finals is small in numbers, but big on quality.

North Marion senior Aaron Pringle will try to earn the Class 1A state title at 285 pounds. Pringle (30-0) downed Hudson Fivay's Kelly Meus 9-1 in the Region 1A-2 finals and hopes to improve on his runner-up finish at state from last season.

If Pringle wins, he'll join his brother, Matt, in county lore as finishing as an undefeated champion as a senior. Matt Pringle won the Class 2A state title as a heavyweight two years ago.

Meanwhile, West Port's Ryan Guthrie (125) makes his first trip to state after a third-place finish at the Region 2A-1 event, while Belleview's Landen Delk (138) is headed back to Lakeland for the second straight year.

Finally, Forest's Richard Carter is headed to Lakeland after finishing fourth at the Region 3A-1 meet at 195 pounds.

The state tournament begins Friday at the Lakeland Center and runs through Saturday.

The championship finals begin Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

KINGDOM DELIVERED: The field in last December's Kingdom of the Sun boys basketball tournament proved itself over the course of the season to be a strong one. Thirteen of the 14 Florida entries that visited Vanguard for the annual holiday event earned trips to the regional playoffs in their respective classifications.